Image-forming apparatus, image-forming method, developing apparatus, and developing method

An image-forming method, comprising:

• a charging step of charging a surface of an electrostatic latent image bearing member;
• an image exposure step of irradiating the charged surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member with image exposure light to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member;
• a developing step of developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member with a developing apparatus to form a toner image on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member;
• a transferring step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member onto a transfer material through or without through an intermediate transfer member;
• and
• a fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred onto the transfer material onto the transfer material,
• the image-forming method including recovering transfer residual toner on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member after the transfer of the toner image with the developing apparatus,
• wherein:
• the developing apparatus includes
• toner for developing the electrostatic latent image,
• a toner carrier for carrying the toner, and
• a regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the toner carried by the toner carrier;
• the toner carrier is placed to be brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image bearing member;
• the toner carrier includes
• a substrate,
• an elastic layer, and
• a surface layer containing a urethane resin;
• the urethane resin has a partial structure derived from a reaction between
• a compound represented by the following structural formula (1) and
• a polyisocyanate;
• the toner comprises magnetic toner containing
• toner particles each containing a binder resin and a magnetic material, and
• inorganic fine particles;
• the toner has a weight average particle diameter (D4) of 9.5 μm or more and 14.0 μm or less;
• and
• a porosity of the toner obtained from the following mathematical expression (1) is 50 or more and 56 or less:
• Porosity=((true density−tap density)/true density)×100 Mathematical expression (1)
• in the structural formula (1):
• n represents an integer of 1 or more and 4 or less;
• R3's each independently represent a group selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (c):
• (a) a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms,
• (b) an aminoalkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, and
• (c) a group represented by the following structural formula (2);
• and
• R4 represents an alkylene group having 2 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms:
• in the structural formula (2):
• m is 2 or 3;
• and
• R5 represents an alkylene group having 2 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms.

A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of an electrostatic latent image bearing member to form a toner image on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member,

• the developing apparatus comprising:
• toner for developing the electrostatic latent image;
• a toner carrier for carrying the toner;
• and
• a regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the toner carried by the toner carrier,
• wherein:
• the toner carrier is placed to be brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image bearing member;
• the toner carrier includes
• a substrate,
• an elastic layer, and
• a surface layer containing a urethane resin;
• the urethane resin has a partial structure derived from a reaction between
• a compound represented by the following structural formula (1) and
• a polyisocyanate;
• the toner comprises magnetic toner containing
• toner particles each containing a binder resin and a magnetic material, and
• inorganic fine particles;
• the toner has a weight average particle diameter (D4) of 9.5 μm or more and 14.0 μm or less;
• and
• a porosity of the toner obtained from the following mathematical expression (1) is 50 or more and 56 or less:
• Porosity=((true density−tap density)/true density)×100 Mathematical expression (1)
• in the structural formula (1):
• n represents an integer of 1 or more and 4 or less;
• R3's each independently represent a group selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (c):
• (a) a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms,
• (b) an aminoalkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, and
• (c) a group represented by the following structural formula (2);
• and
• R4 represents an alkylene group having 2 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms:
• in the structural formula (2):
• m is 2 or 3;
• and
• R5 represents an alkylene group having 2 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms.

A developing method, comprising developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of an electrostatic latent image bearing member with a developing apparatus to form a toner image on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member,

• wherein:
• the developing apparatus includes
• toner for developing the electrostatic latent image,
• a toner carrier for carrying the toner, and
• a regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the toner carried by the toner carrier;
• the toner carrier is placed to be brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image bearing member;
• the toner carrier includes
• a substrate,
• an elastic layer, and
• a surface layer containing a urethane resin;
• the urethane resin has a partial structure derived from a reaction between
• a compound represented by the following structural formula (1) and
• a polyisocyanate;
• the toner comprises magnetic toner containing
• toner particles each containing a binder resin and a magnetic material, and
• inorganic fine particles;
• the toner has a weight average particle diameter (D4) of 9.5 μm or more and 14.0 μm or less;
• and
• a porosity of the toner obtained from the following mathematical expression (1) is 50 or more and 56 or less:
• Porosity=((true density−tap density)/true density)×100 Mathematical expression (1)
• in the structural formula (1):
• n represents an integer of 1 or more and 4 or less;
• R3's each independently represent a group selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (c):
• (a) a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms,
• (b) an aminoalkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, and
• (c) a group represented by the following structural formula (2);
• and
• R4 represents an alkylene group having 2 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms:
• in the structural formula (2):
• m is 2 or 3;
• and
• R5 represents an alkylene group having 2 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms.